Calathea plant named &#39;TWYCA0019 2&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Calathea  plant particularly distinguished by having pink and green bracted inflorescences which are held high above the foliage, sturdy and upright growth habit, large, ovate to elliptical leaves with dark green margins and broad grey-green elliptical centers, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Calathea hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘TWYCA0019 2’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calathea, botanically known as Calathea hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘TWYCA0019 2’. The new cultivar originated as a sport from a Calathea plant designated ‘Indri’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,028) in the Spring of 2005 in Apopka, Fla.

A single plant selection was chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation in Spring, 2005.

The new cultivar was first propagated in the Summer of 2005 in Apopka, Fla. and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by division and tissue culture over two generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Apopka, Fla.

1. Tall, upright branching habit;

2. Pink and green bracted inflorescences which are held above the foliage;

3. Large ovate to elliptical medium green leaves with silver-green markings.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new Calathea plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the overall plant habit including blooms and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘TWYCA0019 2’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Apopka, Fla. The data were obtained in August 2006 from 12-month old plants grown in 6-inch pots from a 13-week-old tissue-culture derived liner. The plants were grown in a greenhouse with average daily temperatures of 24° C.-35° C. and average nightly temperatures of 18° C.-95° C. Color readings were taken under natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Marantaceae.         -   Botanical name.—Calathea hybrid.         -   Common name.—Calathea. -   Parentage:     -   -   Mutation parent: ‘Indri’ Calathea hybrid (U.S. Plant Pat.             No. 16,028). -   Growth:     -   -   General.—Tropical flowering potted plant; plant is suitable             for use in shaded tropical landscapes.         -   Time to flower.—12 months to flowering, starting from a             13-week old liner from tissue culture.         -   Appropriate container.—15 cm to 20 cm pots; suitable for use             in shaded tropical landscapes and indoors. -   Plant description:     -   -   Life cycle.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Habit.—Upright, wider than tall, inverted triangle, densely             leafy; inflorescences upright and held above and among the             foliage in the center of the plant; upright whorls of leaves             arise from underground rhizome; rhizomaceous.         -   Vigor.—Typical of Calathea; progressive and consistent             growth.         -   Height.—28.0 cm to 35.0 cm.         -   Spread (including flowers).—49.0 cm to 57.0 cm.         -   Root color.—RHS N199B (Brown); tips RHS 145D to RHS 155A. -   Branches:     -   -   Branching habit.—Basal branching, rhizomaceous.         -   Number.—10 basal branches.         -   Length.—Variable depending upon age.         -   Lateral branch diameter.—1.2 cm. -   Stems (rhizomes):     -   -   Description.—Cylindrical, round in traverse section.         -   Aspect.—Horizontal, underground rhizome becoming upturned,             vertical at Tip.         -   Strength.—Thick, tough and fibrous.         -   Internode length.—0.9 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Color.—RHS N170C to RHS N170D. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, closely spaced in vertical ranks,             rosette, with one to four leaves per lateral branch             depending on age of the branch.         -   Shape.—Simple, elliptical.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire, wavy.         -   Size.—Length: 16.0 cm to 20.0 cm Width: 11.0 cm to 13.0 cm.         -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: Leaf margin of RHS 147A             to RHS 146A (Medium-green) with a broad diffuse band of two             shades of RHS 194B (Silver-green) and RHS 147B to RHS 147C;             RHS 147A to 146A (Medium green) in the center; RHS 146A to             146B (Pale-green) markings following the mid-rib Lower             surface: RHS 191A Mature leaf: Upper surface: Leaf margin             RHS 147A (Green) with a broad diffuse band of two shades of             RHS 194B to RHS 194C (Silver-green) and RHS 147B; Leaf             center of RHS 147A (Medium-green); RHS 146A to RHS 146B             (Pale green) markings following the midrib Lower surface:             RHS 191A to RHS 147B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate Color: Upper surface: Midrib: RHS             147B tinged with RHS 199B Primary veins: RHS 147A Lower             surface: Midrib: RHS 199A to RHS 199B Primary veins: RHS             191A to RHS 147B.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Glossy to shiny, concave between             primary veins resulting in a slightly textured look Lower             surface: Matte, dull.         -   Surface pubescence.—Absent. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—19.0 cm to 24.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 148A tinged with RHS 199B.         -   Petiole sheath.—Encircles the rhizome and extends up the             petiole to within 8.0 cm of the base of the leaf.         -   Color.—Outside: RHS 146A tinged with RHS 199B and flushed             with RHS N170D Inside: Smooth, shiny RHS 146B tinged with             RHS 199B.         -   Cataphylls.—Shape: Lanceolate Apex: Acute Base: Sessile,             clasping rhizome Length: 10.0 cm to 12.0 cm Diameter             (flattened): 2.0 cm Color: Outside: RHS 146A tinged with RHS             199B and flushed with RHS N170D Inside: Smooth, shiny RHS             146B tinged with RHS 199B Texture: Outside covered with             short, fine pubescence. -   Geniculum:     -   -   General.—The orientation of the leaf to the petiole is             variable, as the geniculum bends. During the night and early             morning the geniculum is straight, and the leaf is held             nearly vertical above the foliage. During the day, the             geniculum is bent, and the leaf is held about 90° to the             petiole.         -   Length.—3.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 199A to RHS 148A. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Size.—Length: 2.0 cm Diameter: 0.35 cm.         -   Shape.—Elongated, elliptical.         -   Color.—Translucent white. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Lastingness of the flowers on the plant.—Individual flowers             last about one day before shrivelling.         -   Flowering season.—Spring and fall 1 to 3 flowers may open             simultaneously per inflorescence per day over a period of             about 8 weeks.         -   Arrangement.—Inflorescence emerges from the center of the             whorl of leaves. Flowers emerge from short branch spikes             under colourful bracts atop a tall upright spike.         -   Inflorescence type.—Tall, upright, terminally bracted spike;             bracts arranged in closely spaced vertical ranks occupying             the upper 6.0 cm of the spike.         -   Inflorescence height.—30.0 cm to 36.0 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—7.0 cm from tip to tip of bracts across             top of Inflorescence.         -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—72.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—11 spikes present;             about 440 flowers and buds per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flowering habit.—Tips of petals and staminods emerge from             branch spikes under fertile bracts; flowers last about one             day before fading and shrivelling. -   Flowers:     -   -   Form.—Tube-like.         -   General.—Self-cleaning.         -   Shape.—Tube like; staminodes and petals curve outward.         -   Diameter.—1.8 cm across the face of the flower; tube of             flower is 0.3 cm.         -   Petals.—General: 3 petals per flower; tube-like with a             translucent, delicate appearance that curves outward at the             tips Size: Length: 3.2 cm Width: 0.5 cm Shape: Narrow,             elliptic Apex: Acute Margin: Entire Texture: Smooth, both             surfaces Aspect: Outward Color (both surfaces): Translucent             white, fading to RHS 199C to RHS 199D, ultimately becoming             RHS 200A. -   Sepals:     -   -   General.—Composed of 3 sepals; translucent, pale white,             crystalline with a tube-like arrangement.         -   Shape.—Narrow elliptic to linear.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—2.2 cm.         -   Width.—0.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Both sides are smooth.         -   Color (both surfaces).—RHS 155D (Translucent white). -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—30.0 cm to 36.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Angle.—Straight upright.         -   Strength.—Tough flexible.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 148A tinged with RHS 199B. -   Bracts:     -   -   General.—Terminal bracts uppermost on raceme, subtended by             fertile bracts with underlying branch spikes.         -   Terminal bracts.—Quantity: 8 Length: 4.0 cm Width: 2.0 cm             Shape: Elliptic, flat or reflexed Apex: Acute Base: Acute             Margin: Entire, smooth Color: Upper surface: Margin RHS 186A             to RHS 186B (Pink); edge tinged with RHS 186D; Center RHS             138B to RHS 138D Lower surface: RHS 194B to RHS 194C tinged             with RHS 199A; margins are RHS 186A to RHS 186B Texture:             Upper surface: Smooth Lower surface: Slightly rough.         -   Fertile bracts.—Quantity: 11 Length: 2.8 cm Width: 3.3 cm             Shape: Broadly obovate Apex: Emarginate Base: Acute Margin:             Entire, smooth Color: Upper surface: Margins are RHS 186C to             RHS 186D with the center RHS 191B to RHS 191C Lower surface:             Margins are RHS 186B to RHS 186C, with the center RHS 138B             Texture: Upper surface: Smooth Lower surface: Slightly             rough. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Staminode.—3; thin, crystalline, delicate, with a tube-like             arrangement that is flared outward and reflexed at the tips             Shape: Two are spatulate with emarginated tips, one is short             reduced, linear, cupped at the tip Margin: Entire Length:             3.2 cm; reduced staminode is 2.7 cm Width: 0.8 cm at widest             point; reduced staminode is 0.3 cm Texture (both surfaces):             Smooth Color: Spatulate staminodes translucent white RHS             155B flushed with RHS N87C; reduced staminodes are             translucent white, RHS 155B flushed with RHS N87C.         -   Stamens.—Quantity: 1 Anther shape: Lanceolate Anther length:             0.1 cm Anther width: 0.05 cm Anther color: RHS 8C (Yellow)             Pollen Amount: Sparse Color: RHS 155A.         -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1 Length: 2.9 cm Stigma shape: Elliptic,             cupped Stigma color: RHS 155A (White) Style length: 2.9 cm             Style diameter: 0.1 cm Style color: RHS 155A (White) Ovary:             Inferior, 3 celled Color: RHS 155A (White) Length: 0.22 cm             Width: 0.19 cm. -   Fruit and seed set: Has not been observed -   Disease and insect resistance: Resistance and susceptibility is     typical of the species.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘TWYCA0019 2’ differs from the mutation parent Calathea hybrid ‘Indri’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,028) in that ‘TWYCA0019 2’ has a lower leaf surface that is green colored, while ‘Indri’ has a lower leaf surface that is purple colored.

‘TWYCA0019 2’ differs from the commercial variety Calathea named ‘Eclipse’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,621) in that ‘TWYCA0019 2’ has green colored lower leaf surface, while ‘Eclipse’ has a lower leaf surface with a dark purple color. ‘TWYCA0019 2’ has long lasting pink and green bracted inflorescences which are displayed above the foliage, while ‘Eclipse’ has green bracted inflorescences that are short scaped, inconspicuous and held among and below the foliage. ‘TWYCA0019 2’ is taller and has a more upright growth habit, while ‘Eclipse’ has a shorter, more spreading growth habit. Additionally, ‘TWYCA0019 2’ has large leaves, while ‘Eclipse’ has small leaves. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calathea plant as shown and described herein. 